Day Tripping

For TAWC drivers, it’s always new

August 8, 2012

Jimmy Rogers has learned that better than most people. He drives buses for the Transit Authority of Warren County.

When school's in session, Rogers said he also drives school buses. He's been doing it for three years now after he got laid off from Ellwood National Forge.

Article Photos

All aboardDean Carlson, left, gets on a TAWC bus driven by Jimmy Rogers.

"After many years of working in the shop, my body gave out on me," Rogers said.

During his training through Warren Bus Lines, Rogers said he soon found out his new career isn't physically demanding. However, it can be mentally taxing.

At all times, Rogers said, he has to keep his eyes on the road. Motorists do things that are unexpected, he said, and buses can't stop as easily as smaller vehicles.

In fact, Rogers said his bus weighs around 12 tons. It costs $310,000 and can haul 49 people with 33 seated and 16 standing.

With a width of 102 inches, Rogers said the bus is as wide of a vehicle as the law allows. Buses like his Gillig serve fixed routes and were introduced to the TAWC fleet three years ago. They now have a little over 100,000 miles on them.

Fellow drivers share tips on what to do in every situation, Rogers said, and he got additional TAWC training from Brad Wilcox, Patty Bratz, Cindy Zingone and George Weaver.

On Friday, Rogers said two drivers had pulled out in front of him within five minutes of starting work. It's one of the worst days of the week, he said, with the hours of 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. being the worst when people are getting out of work.

"Traffic gets terrible and then people become frustrated and mad because they can't go anywhere," Rogers said. "That's when they do stupid stuff."

All together, Rogers said he drives around 1,000 miles each week. His route from the terminal in Warren to Sheffield is the longest TAWC has.

During the course of a day, Rogers said he travels to Sheffield five times. It may sound repetitive, but no two trips are the same.

"One time, I passed a poultry truck accident," Rogers said. "There were chickens and turkeys all over the place."

Riders are always different, too, Rogers said, and road construction can shake things up. Both gigs are different, he said, since one involves working with students and the other with the general public.

William Barhight said he appreciates being able to use TAWC. Officials did a good job when they introduced public transportation, he said, but he would also like to see service extended to Kane.